The U.S. Naval Institute Information Warfare Essay Contest is an annual writing competition sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute to encourage original and innovative thinking on the topic of information warfare. This Contest is an academic contest at a high level organized in order to bring forward some creative ideas regarding the use of information in modern navies. Conducted under the supervision of the USNI, one of the most prestigious professional military organizations globally, this contest involves writing essays on various subjects such as cybersecurity, electronic warfare, intelligence and cryptology. The purpose of the contest is to motivate Sea Services (the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) to use information as a weapons system through creativity. The contest is open to all members of the military, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, and contractors who support the Department of Defense.
The contest seeks essays that explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the information age, and how the U.S. Navy and its partners can best use information warfare to support national security objectives. Topics can range from technical innovations to strategic concepts, and can include areas such as cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations.
Essays must be original, unpublished works of no more than 3,000 words, and must be submitted by a specified deadline. A panel of judges evaluates the essays based on the quality of the research, analysis, and writing, as well as the originality and relevance of the ideas presented.
The top three winners receive cash prizes and have their essays published in the U.S. Naval Institute’s professional journal, Proceedings. The contest provides an opportunity for members of the military community to contribute to the dialogue on information warfare and to advance their professional development. The Naval Institute Information Warfare Essay Cash awards are presented to the winners, and their essays will be featured in Proceedings Magazine.
The Information Warfare Essay Contest acts as a useful medium between technical expertise and strategic thought. The “Information Warfare” themes are Battlespace Awareness, Assured Command & Control, and Integrated Fires. This contest differs from other scholarship opportunities because its criteria solely rest on how convincing and well-written an argument is. Scholarships of up to $5,000 can be won based on original ideas for future Naval and national security policy.
